In 1787, the town of Hamburg was founded. In 2018, 1787 Brewing Company was founded — an homage to the town itself and the local community that thrives within it. Jim Gerner is the co-owner and a Hamburg native. As he puts it, “I wanted 1787 to be all about the town of Hamburg. I was born and raised here and never left. I wanted to pay tribute to this great little town by tying in the names of the beers with local landmarks or well-known people that were from Hamburg.”
That he does. Whether it’s the Penn Steel Pale Lager or Fern Sholly IPA, all of 1787 Brewing Company’s beers are named after people, places and culture surrounding the Hamburg area. Staying local has become a huge focal point of the craft brewing industry, and 1787 Brewing Company exhibits this in a way that sits just right with the town it represents and is a part of.
Sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to go — whether it’s your operation, the beers you’re brewing or the menu you offer. “I would advise anyone new in this business to keep things simple. Brew classic-style beers and get really good at them. All the other crazy stuff will come; you’ll have time for all that later. Just make good simple beers and people will come,” Jim recommended.
We asked Jim what changes he’s seen in the industry since he started. “I don’t think I personally notice any real changes in the year that we’ve been open,” he said. “I will say that a year into the game, the support and help that we get from other breweries is fantastic. We always heard how everyone helps each other out, and that’s an understatement. We continue to get closer with everyone around the county, and that’s a very important thing.”
This is a true testament to the brewing community at large, as well as 1787’s commitment to bringing craft beer to Hamburg in a way that’s all its own.
What about plans for the 1787’s future? “We’re in a pretty unique space. The floor is cut out in the back of the building so you can see down into the basement where we brew. Not a whole lot of extra space is available for expansion at this point,” he explained. “If we can make it work, I’d love to upgrade to a slightly bigger system, maybe a 5 or 7 BBL in the near future.”
Jim does have favorite brews and future plans for styles, however. “I’m a big IPA guy, so we recently released the first beer in our ‘Single-Track’ IPA series. We’re going to brew all new IPAs by experimenting with different hops that we haven’t used before.”
Of course, no brewpub would be complete without a beer and food pairing that really locks in on the local flavor. “There’s a mushroom swiss burger on our menu that pairs really well with our Fern Sholly IPA. That is my favorite.”
Between 1787’s commitment to the local community and its local-centric business model, it’s easy to see this Hamburg gem growing for many years to come.
The Brewers of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit trade association that brings together leaders of Pennsylvania-based breweries in order to promote and protect the brewing industry in the state. Established in 2011, the Brewers of Pennsylvania serves the consuming public of Pennsylvania by encouraging brand diversity in the market. We believe in the nobility of brewing and hold dear the great traditions and history of Pennsylvania brewing.
Photos: Angie Epting
